Lamy Studio Gold Nib Very Scratchy

[countrydirt]

I thought I would start here and ask for some input. I recently received a Studio in Palladium with an EF gold nib. The nib is extremely scratchy and not pleasant at all. I will try and take some photos after a bit, but the tip seems to have a relatively large and sharp anvil shaped blob of tipping on the bottom of the nib. I compare it to the steel nib on a Studio and the steel nib is relatively flat underneath. Also compared to the gold nib on a 2000, the anvil shaped tipping is at least twice as large on the Studio nib as it is on the 2000.

 

I'm going to try a different ink to see if that makes a difference. Right now I have Monteverde Brown in it and it's always been a relatively dry ink in other pens I've used it in.

 

Does this look normal?

Sorry for the large photo, my resizing skills failed me today!

Edited July 25, 2019 by countrydirt

[rlb]

I have a lamy EF gold nib on a CP1 and it too is scratchy. I would say more than other gold EF nibs I have used, even when considering that all EF nibs will have some degree of scratchiness. It is just part of using an EF nib

 

It improved with a mylar paper treatment and some time. Overall I am still less than impressed with it given its higher cost compared with SS nibs and its performance.

[Karmachanic]

Gold nib, steel nib - same tipping, and that's what touches the page.

[bogiesan]

You need a loupe to make a valid diagnosis. Could be slightly misaligned tines. But as Karma says, it’s the tipping that hits the paper, not the gold. You can perform gentle tweaking or abrasion if you have the correct tools and if you dare. The cost of the tools might be more than the cost of replacing the nib if you mess it up.

[countrydirt]

Thanks for the input guys. I guess I wasn't clear. I have several Lamy pens, some with the gold nibs and some with steel nibs. I expect an extra fine nib to not be as smooth since there is less surface area. Looking at my photo above, does the tipping seem excessive? It is at least twice the size of any other Lamy nib I have, if not 3 times the size. I've looked at it through a loupe and the tines seem aligned. I've run a series of figure 8s and circles and lines on my smoothing papers from Goulet (mylar sheets - .1 and .03?) and it doesn't seem to make a difference. It is only scratchy on the horizontal strokes of letters, not vertical or semi-vertical.

 

I wonder if some of you who might have a Lamy gold EF nib might compare the appearance in my photo with your nib. If they look the same they I guess I just need to write with it and over time it might "write in". If, however, the photo of mine looks substantially different than what others have, then I would seek another solution.

[Tonhao5]

Hmm, I have a Studio with a EF steel nib and it's not scratchy at all. I almost went for the gold but decided that could be used towards another pen...

 

If micromesh isn't doing anything it's possible the inner part of the nib is doing the scratching, which is harder to fix. Can you take this to the seller and get another one? Or possibly write to LAMY?

[countrydirt]

Hmm, I have a Studio with a EF steel nib and it's not scratchy at all. I almost went for the gold but decided that could be used towards another pen...

 

If micromesh isn't doing anything it's possible the inner part of the nib is doing the scratching, which is harder to fix. Can you take this to the seller and get another one? Or possibly write to LAMY?

My Studio with an EF steel nib is smooth as well. I'm not sure about sending it back as I purchased it via Amazon and it came from the UK to the US. I guess I could contact them and see what they think.

[FOUR X FOUR]

Country dirt, do yourself a favor and come over to the dark side. Broad nibs are boss. The big juicy lines look so much nicer than fine and extra fine lines. Plus broad nibs are never scratchy

[Honeybadgers]

post another picture. That magnification, dead straight on looking at the nib.

 

I'm guessing it's misaligned. Something that just happens and is easily fixed.

 

That said, if you really just can't stand the EF and would be interested in trading for a 14k oblique medium, I don't really love medium nibs and have a spare 14k OM that writes perfectly.

Edited August 2, 2019 by Honeybadgers

[Calabria]

I think it looks ok. There are variations - my gold EF nibs range from glassy smooth to toothy. They usually write wetter, softer, smoother after about 6 months.

 

Whatever people say about the tipping being the same on steel and gold nibs, they are manufactured differently, feel differently, write differently.

[countrydirt]

Guys, I have several broad nibs and enjoy them greatly, however, I also like italic, stubs, fines, flexs, calligraphy and bamboo nibs. The only ones I'm not a fan of are mediums. They are just meh.

 

I'll try to take a few more photos soon and post them. I need to wait for better light.

 

I cleaned the pen and filled it with Noodlers American Eel in blue and it is writing smoother on good paper, still scratchy on lower quality paper.

Edited August 3, 2019 by countrydirt

[rlb]

Thanks for the input guys. I guess I wasn't clear. I have several Lamy pens, some with the gold nibs and some with steel nibs. I expect an extra fine nib to not be as smooth since there is less surface area. Looking at my photo above, does the tipping seem excessive? It is at least twice the size of any other Lamy nib I have, if not 3 times the size. I've looked at it through a loupe and the tines seem aligned. I've run a series of figure 8s and circles and lines on my smoothing papers from Goulet (mylar sheets - .1 and .03?) and it doesn't seem to make a difference. It is only scratchy on the horizontal strokes of letters, not vertical or semi-vertical.

 

I wonder if some of you who might have a Lamy gold EF nib might compare the appearance in my photo with your nib. If they look the same they I guess I just need to write with it and over time it might "write in". If, however, the photo of mine looks substantially different than what others have, then I would seek another solution.

 

Here are some pictures of my EF gold nib. I could not get as zoomed in as much as yours with my phone. Hopefully they help.

 

[Anne-Sophie]

Any nib can feel scratchy on lower quality paper.

 

It might be that the lower quality paper you are using is too rough for your sensitive EF nib, at some angles.

[pitonyak]

And some of mine after some years of use. I don't think I have a great angle for this and I needed better lighting.

 

 

 

 

What part of that tip hits the paper when you write? I don't usually think of mine as scratchy, but, I would also try a few different inks just to see if that makes a difference.

[DrDebG]

From your photos it appears as though your tines are misaligned. Get a loupe and look at the tines straight on both on the top and the bottom (see pitonyak's bottom photo). Once you have determined which tine is misaligned, gently try to lift the lower tine to align them. Be patient, be gentle and take your time. Check the alignment frequently with your loupe. After they seem aligned, then try writing with them. If the tines pop out of alignment again, repeat the above. If it does it a third time, consider sending the pen to a nibmeister.

 

All of my Lamy gold nibs are very smooth right out of the box, including my EF's. Your nib does not seem to have more tipping than normal, IMO.

[countrydirt]

I've looked at the tines in a loop and no, I can't take a photo that close with my phone. I don't believe the tines are misaligned. I think it is just a symptom of the "EF" nib. Mine writes as wide as some of my mediums and honestly it feels as smooth as a felt tip marker.

 

I'll be trying a variety of inks with it over the next few fillings and I'll see what I think. This is the first Lamy nib, either steel or gold, that hasn't been extremely smooth, except for my first EF nibbed Safari back about 10 years ago.

[A Smug Dill]

I think it is just a symptom of the "EF" nib. Mine writes as wide as some of my mediums and honestly it feels as smooth as a felt tip marker.

That's a crying shame. From the shape of the tipping, I thought for a moment that you chanced upon a winner of a Lamy nib that would behave somewhat like a Sailor Zoom nib, laying down narrow lines when the pen is held almost upright, and gradually broader lines as you make the angle between pen and page more shallow.

 

This is the 14K gold (Z56) EF nib on my Lamy Imporium:

 

and a writing sample, including my 'standard' test that I use to gauge the fineness of a nib (subject to influences due ink choice, etc.):

 

 

so I'd say the Z56 nib I have is approximately on par with a Japanese F nib. (The KWZI IG Turquoise ink seems to run rather wet in my Sailor Pro Gear Ocean, while the Fine nib on my Sailor PGS Ocean seems to be a bit of a high-achiever in terms of fineness.)